A method of bonding a connector to a first object includes providing the connector, the connector being separate from the first object and including a thermoplastic material; arranging the first object and the connector relative to one another so that the connector reaches from a proximal side of the object through a first opening in the object; generating and applying vibrations and mechanical pressure to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and caused to flow sideways radially into an open space; and removing the source of the vibrations and causing the liquefied thermoplastic material to re-solidify, resulting in the connector with a foot portion, a head portion, and a shaft portion between the foot portion and the head portion. The shaft portion extends along an axis through the first opening, and secures the connector to the first object.

A method is provided for plastic forming of a ball which forms a connecting element or part of a connecting element intended for connecting at least two components. At least some of the energy required for the plastic forming of the ball is introduced into the ball by way of ultrasound.

Composite fasteners, associated blanks and also methods and apparatus for the installation of such fasteners are disclosed. An exemplary composite rivet (10) disclosed comprises an elongated body including braided reinforcement fibers (14) embedded inside the body and supported in a matrix material (16). Also disclosed are structural assemblies comprising composite fasteners and panels or other parts comprising composite and/or other materials.

A joining structure includes a first member, a second member of a material different from that of the first member, and a separation mechanism provided between the first member and the second member and that separates the first member and the second member from each other, wherein a resin is filled into the space between the edge of at least one member among the first member and the second member, and the other member.

A method for manufacturing a rivet connection of a fiber composite component. The method includes positioning a first component which contains a fiber composite material in an overlap joint with a second component, laser-drilling a shared through-hole at least through the fiber composite material of the first component, inserting a rivet into the through-hole and fixing the rivet to the first and to the second component.

A composite laminate reinforcing tool may be used to form a reinforced joint at a bond line of a composite laminate structure. The tool may hold one or more clips having posts, and the tool may be positioned along the bond line between at least two composite laminate elements. Joint sections of the clip may be heated to increase a pliability of the joint section, and the tool may be actuated to drive the post through the at least two composite laminate elements. The posts may be deflected toward a base of the clip, thereby to seat the clip. The reinforced composite laminate structure may then be cured.

A firearm holster includes a first half shell and a second half shell. The first half shell is nested in the second half shell to form a cavity therebetween for enclosing one or both of a barrel and a trigger area of a firearm. The cavity further includes an opening for receiving the firearm and otherwise having no other gaps or openings.

Article formed by joining with a fastener (10) a first composite layer (15) and second layer (16). The structure is made mechanically stable by the use of the melt adhesion region (18) due to the introduction of energy during the assembly process.

A method of bonding a connector to a first object includes providing the connector, the connector being separate from the first object and including a thermoplastic material; arranging the first object and the connector relative to one another so that the connector reaches from a proximal side of the object through a first opening in the object; generating and applying vibrations and mechanical pressure to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and caused to flow sideways radially into an open space; and removing the source of the vibrations and causing the liquefied thermoplastic material to re-solidify, resulting in the connector with a foot portion, a head portion, and a shaft portion between the foot portion and the head portion. The shaft portion extends along an axis through the first opening, and secures the connector to the first object.

A punch for a staking/riveting device having a workpiece receiving opening formed on a pressing surface of the punch to make a workpiece, projecting from a contacting surface, that is at least partially introducible into the receiving opening in response to the pressing surface of the punch approaching the contacting surface and is deformable in conformity with an inner contour of the receiving opening; at least a partial surface of the inner contour being formed in a spherical/ellipsoidal cap shape; and the inner contour of the receiving opening having an inner-contour intermediate surface between a rim of the inner contour on the pressing surface and the spherical or ellipsoidal cap-shaped partial surface that is a cylinder truncated cone jacket-shaped. A staking/riveting device, a joining partner for cooperating with the punch or with the staking/riveting device, a device having at least one staked/riveted workpiece, and a method for staking/riveting a workpiece.